Mathare United players celebrate/ FILEMathare United head coach John Kamau has stressed the importance of a fast start when his side takes on Posta Rangers in their 2025/26 FKF Premier League opener at Kasarani Annex on September 22.
Kick-off is set for 4 pm, and Kamau believes a strong opening performance will be crucial in setting the tone for the season ahead.
“The game against Posta—we have to start on a high note from day one,” said Kamau. “We are not just preparing for Posta, we have a very long season ahead of us.”
Mathare will draw confidence from doing the double over the mailmen last season. In the first leg, they won 2-0 with goals from Deric Anami and Paul Kinyanjui. The return fixture was a 3-2 thriller, with Anami, Kinyanjui and Musa Masika scoring for the Slum Boys, while Felix Oluoch and Shamin Mwinyi replied for Posta.
Mathare finished 10th in the 2024/25 campaign with 42 points, while Posta narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 16th with 35 points.
Kamau highlighted that pre-season preparations have been focused not only on the opener, but also on the demanding run of fixtures to follow.
After facing Posta, Mathare will meet KCB four days later, before taking on Tusker (Oct 1), Kariobangi Sharks (Oct 5), and Shabana away at Gusii Stadium (Oct 20).
“From the very first day of pre-season, we started with the team philosophy, and that is what we are going to follow throughout the season,” Kamau noted.
He emphasised the need to build a cohesive and resilient squad capable of competing with any opposition.
“For this season, we want to have a solid team. After that, everything else will fall into place.”
Mathare have been active in the transfer window, bringing in several new faces to reinforce the squad.
New signings include goalkeepers Daniel Owuor and Kevin Ouru, defenders Dennis Mukoye and Herit Mungai, forward Dennis Okoth, and midfielders Jacob Onyango and John Macharia.
Winger Glenn Odhiambo has also rejoined the club for a second stint, having previously featured during their 2023/24 National Super League campaign.
